Robotic aircraft cleaning systems are being deployed to address an often-overlooked operational challenge during insect season: the buildup of insect residue on aerodynamic surfaces. Studies have found that this contamination can increase fuel consumption by 1.1% to 4.4%, depending on flight length, with as few as 400 insect impacts disrupting the laminar airflow critical to aircraft efficiency. In response, airlines are turning to automated cleaning technologies, such as those provided by Nordic Dino Robotics, to reduce contamination-related drag and manage rising fuel costs.
Insect accumulation typically occurs during takeoff, climb-out, approach, and landing phases, when aircraft operate at altitudes and speeds conducive to insect impact. The residue primarily collects on the nose, wings, and forward fuselage, degrading aerodynamic performance. According to the German Aerospace Center (DLR), this buildup can lead to fuel penalties across both short- and long-haul flights, posing financial risks to carriers, particularly during high-activity periods in spring, summer, and monsoon seasons.
Fuel costs account for approximately one-quarter to one-third of airline operating expenses. As a result, airlines are increasingly adopting robotic cleaning solutions to reduce aircraft-on-ground time and improve efficiency. Nordic Dino reports that its robotic systems can shorten exterior cleaning times by up to 80%, reducing the cleaning duration for wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A330 or Boeing 777 from eight to four hours, and for narrow-body jets like the Boeing 737 from three to one hour. These automated systems provide a scalable, labor-efficient response to seasonal insect contamination, enabling operators to sustain performance standards while managing cost pressures linked to increased fuel burn.
